The Story of An Update by Microsoft that Wasn’t But Is: Code Name – 8.1.1

This one is a funny but also sad one. It seems I’m kid of playing with adjectives but if that’s the way it is. In any case the title should tell you everything. And if you are the type to follow the everyday tech news (like me), than you know it has happened before. But enough with the introduction. Let’s get to it!

It all started in January of this year, when the first update to the update was hinted through a leak. That leak contained an image looking like it wasn’t tampered with. Once we knew more or less for sure what we already had expected, it was just a matter of time before people started talking. Soon it looked like a mess for Microsoft as it seemed they were “holding back” the Windows 8.1 update 1 – update. Still the software giant managed to keep it all silent for a while and most turned their heads elsewhere. But then it happened.

Maybe it’s relevant or not. I’m talking about the name of that someone that first spotted it. The Update 1 for 8.1 was pulled from the Microsoft servers and thrown on the Internet. Back then (only hours to maybe days ago) it was not so easy to get. One had to kind of wrestle a bit to get it but in return the result was as expected. So the official update was leaked! Was there something Microsoft could have done about it? Sure there was. But the result would have been the same only in a different form. That was a thing they knew. So what was the obvious choice to make but release it. But not the official way. Rather the “shut up and just get it” type.

So now everyone can have it. Cause they even simplified the process of getting it. With a simple registry modification followed by a reboot – one can be informed the normal way of the new release. How to do it? That’s easy. So you look for Run in the Metro UI and type Regedit in it. Aproove any admin notifications and then find the key:

“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\”

There you create a new key named: “SHWindowsPoolS14”

That is it! Reboot the machine and – Update for Windows 8.1 for x64-based Systems (KB2919442) – (S14 Prerequisite v01.0008) – or so (may be different on 32bit systems) should be your notification. Satisfied? Well then if you aren’t that impatient the very official update is coming as scheduled. In April.